The way to wealth. The ancient alchemists thought there was a substance which would
convert all baser metals into gold. This substance they called the philosophers stone. Here the word stone is about equal to the word substratum, which is compounded of the Latin sub and stratus (spread-under), the latter being related to the verb stand, stood, and meaning something on which the experiment stands. It was, in fact, a red powder or amalgam to drive off the impurities of baser metals. (Stone, Saxon, stán.)

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Philosophers stone. According to legend, Noah was commanded to hang up the true and genuine philosophers stone in the ark, to give light to every living creature therein.

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Inventions discovered in sarching for the philosophers stone. It was in searching for this treasure that Bötticher stumbled on the invention of Dresden porcelain manufacture; Roger Bacon on the composition of gunpowder; Geber on the properties of acids; Van Helmont on the nature of gas; and Dr. Glauber on the salts which bear his name.